You should be stopping by the GMC dealer at least once a year for checkups and tune-ups on your car or truck. Every couple of years, the technicians at the dealership will recommend you get a new car battery during your regular service. Sometimes your battery will fail before your next service, though, and we’d like to talk to you about what happens when the battery needs replacing.
Does Your GMC Vehicle Need a New Car Battery? Things To Look Out For
Your GMC Dealer Recommends It
You might not be having any battery issues, but if your dealer recommends you replace the battery anyway, then it’s a good idea to follow that recommendation. Factory-trained GMC technicians know that the batteries in GMC cars and trucks should be replaced every 3 to 5 years, and it’s better to replace the battery before it fails.
Your Engine Is Starting Slowly
When your engine stops turning over as quickly as it used to, then your battery is telling you that it’s getting ready to fail completely. Pretty soon, there’ll come a time when your engine just won’t turn over at all. You may be able to breathe some life back into your battery by jumpstarting it, but eventually, even that won’t bring your battery back to life.
Your Headlights Stop Working
If your headlights aren’t working anymore, then it doesn’t necessarily mean you need new bulbs. Battery issues could actually be causing your headlight problems. Your battery is what powers the headlights, so when they get dim or they stop working completely, then your battery might be having problems powering everything that it needs to. You might notice that other electrical components get slow or stop working, too.
Your Battery Is Leaking Gas
Never ignore weird smells in your cabin, as sometimes they’re caused by something going wrong under the hood. Damaged batteries will sometimes leak gas, and this gas smells like rotten eggs. The odor might penetrate the cabin, or you might not notice it until you pop the hood. Either way, it’s a very bad sign, and your leaky battery needs to be replaced ASAP.
Your Check Engine or Battery Light Is On
Keep an eye on the dash for symbols telling you something’s wrong under the hood. A rectangle with minus and plus signs might show up, indicating a problem with the battery. You might also spot an engine-shaped graphic, indicating there’s an engine issue impacting your battery. A faulty alternator, for example, can cause battery performance issues.
Stop by Hart Motors GMC any time you notice one of the issues above cropping up in your car or truck. Our factory-trained technicians will take a look under the hood, replace the battery if needed, and fix anything else that’s not working as it should.
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